Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-25

gladly DO it again" 1 replied, wholly
unconscious Of the temper was intensi-
fyine by what intended as an earnest
of my good will.
"Iou would, would you?" glaring
at me more fercely with each word OF
the interrogatory. you'd sare me
again, Ell What's your idea Of saliva
ton? Is it sdiUation to transport q
man f1om the portal of Inconsistencies
to the vital contact of five long years,
to he pricked by their fortunes and
maddened by their carnivals OF blood ?
Is il sdlration to take him from the
embrace Of a merciful oblivion that
awaits him and consign him to the in
ouisition OF months whose infections
are more terrible than the agonies
visited upon the martys? is that your
idea of saiCation? Is it saving lie to
cogisign to q lingering deah ?"
AS he rounded ont this climax his
bosom heaved with pillows of ill-sup-
pressed excitement, and his quiyering
irame told how inadequate his means
Of speech had been to the carrying OF
Of his wild passion.
Although somewhat anxious I was
not alarmed / felt confident that my
wife's entrance would allay his spasm,
and. at the worst, / felt myself quite
capable Of coping with him until as
sistance arrived. Continuing TO eye
lin steadiastly awaited develop
ments.
Suddenly his eye caught sight of the
steamer tickets. Selling them he ex-
claimed
"Aba then / am in time. 1t Is now
my time TO save your life. Not as You
saved mine, but with a salvation
weighted with benefts--a salvation
that entails freedom from pain, ex-
emption from sorrow and disappoint-
ment, and the elixir Of blissful rest.
These tickets are the passports to de-
struction. This steamer Whirlwind
the archtype of that other whirlwind
that would blow you onto the bleak
shores Of death. 1t is from this | have
come TO SaUe you, to saUo yOu, to sdre
gCu!
Scarcely was the last word uttered
than with a rapid movement | could
neither avert nor explain lie had aimed
a pistol at my head, and in q moment
all was death to me.
My return to life was signalled by
hearing the words: He is not seri-
ously burt-it is severe abrasion of
the scalp-the cap has saved him.
1t was my friend, DR.. Fenton, who
had opportunely dropped in to say his
adieus just as my wife, startled by the
reroIt, had hurried in and found me
unconscious. JOY over my miraculous
escape quite averted any disappoint-
ment over the compulsory giving up of
our trip A courier was dispatched to
. the steamer, however, to prevent if pos
sible the sailing Of our baggage, and
another to the police department to in
sure the capture OF the mailman. Nei-
ther was successful the steamer had
departed, and it was the testimony of
many who saw the incident that at the
very last moment n man answering
Hardy's description ran up the gang
plank and disappearedin the cabinway.
4 few days after, while reclting TO a
circle Of friends the thrilling details OF
NY final meeting with Hardy, DR.. Fen
ten dropped in, and handing me an eve
ming paper. pointed to the caption of a
leading news item. 1t read
"IheStoamer Whirlwind' Founders
at Sea Not q Soul Saved !"
The full import Of those words
stunned nc. Sampson Hardy's shot
had indeed saved not only my life. but
that Of ny Gearly-loved wife.
WADE WHIPPLg.